Hart County

“Bearwallow
Church was organized in AD 1867
by Rev. Nat Terry (white). They
held their meetings in the white
people’s church at Bearwallow
until they could build them a
church for themselves. The
church was constituted with nine
members.

“The church has
had only three pastors. The
first was Rev. P. Murrell; he
was the pastor of the church
until his death. The second
pastor was Rev. E. W. Strange,
who held the church until his
death. The third pastor is Rev.
C. W. Bransford, who has charage
of the church at present.

“The church from
its organization to the present
has had nine deacons. The first
board of directors was composed
of Edmond Wilson, Wesley Green,
Oliver Parrish and Jesse Garvin.
The second board is composed of
Lafayette Nuckles, Peter Smith,
L. TG. Davis, Pompey Vaughn and
C. T. Garnett.

“The church has
never had to call a council to
settle any of its troubles. She
always kept peace among her
members. The church is located
on the L & N Pike, eight miles
east of Horse Cave, Ky., and has
property valued at $1,500.00.
The church has had three
buildings; the first was
composed of logs with puncheon
seats, worth about $5.00. The
second building was a frame, 26
x 30 feet, valued at $50.00,
this burned in 1902; the third
is a weather-boarded house 26 x
36 feet, built in the latest
design, valued at $1,800.00,
with a present membership of
105.”

“The Horse Cave
First Baptist Church was
organized in the year 1878 by
Rev. Spot Underwood. Members of
the organization were: Lucy
Beard, Amanda Dinnis, Phil Dunn,
Bill Dunn, George Esters, Lizzie
Duke, Liza Nunnelly, Ben Heiois,
Ned Massey, John Wheeler and
Ellen Wheeler. These are the
pastors as they succeeded each
other: first, Rev. Tolbert
Rogers, Daniel Wilson, Isaac
Owens, Elzy Lewis, Jimmie Lewis,
Ben Rogers, William Page, Wash
Sample, and Ben Fant. These are
all death [sic] with the
exception of Rev. Fant, the
present pastor. From this body
the following ministers have
gone: Reverends Alec White, Wash
Sample, Edd Palmore, John Thomas
Barlow and Charlie Stiffy. The
deacons were: A. Hurndon, J. F.
Beard and G. W. Mills. The
present membership is 150. The
above photo and church history
was paid for by Rev. J. T.
Barlow and Bro. Lewis Parrish.”

“This church was
organized by Rev. Wallis, of
Ohio, about the year 1867. The
first members were drawn from
the white church, namely: Tom Bloxman and wife, Jim Sanders
and wife, Uncle John Perry, Aunt
Mariah Wood, Rev. Gaddie and
wife, Bell Gaddie, Bill McDougal
and wife, Bill Harper, John
Dudley.

“After Rev.
Wallis organized the church he
stayed with it about a year and
the first deacons were: John
Perry, Jim Sanders and Bill
McDougal.

“The next
preacher was Rev. Tolbert
Rogers. The deacon that came in
under him was bill Harper.
Brothers Rogers served two years
as pastor. Our next pastor was Armstead Gaddie, serving a
little over a year. The next
pastor was Ike Owens, serving
until his death. The next
pastor, Rev. Elgie Lewis, served
until death. After him Rev. J.
E. Wood served a very short
time. After him Rev. Pierson
served us about seventeen years.
Our next pastor, Rev. C. W.
Bransford, served a short time.
After him, Rev. Garnett served a
short term, or about two years.
After him came Rev. Fant, then
Rev. C. H. Coakley, of
Campbellsville served one year.

“The Oak Ridge
Missionary Baptist Church, of
Horse Cave, was
organized on Monday, August 9,
1875, in Barren County, Ky.,
with a council composed of Rev.
John James, Will J. Edwards, J.
B. Edwards, deacons (white)
members were as follows:
Brothers George Watson, Ralph
Wood, Ben Garnett and George
Payton also Sister Candace Wood.
After constituting, the doors of
the church were opened and the
following joined on the credit
of their letters: Richard
Wilson, Adam Garnett, Elyza
Wilson, Rachel Wilson, Dinie
Garnett, Jane Wilson and Mary
Wilson. The church then agreed
to chose a deacon and the vote
was cast in favor of Bro. Ralph
Wood for deacon and was ordained
the same day by a council
composed of Reverends John
James, W. J. And John B.
Edwards. In January 1876 Rev.
Elvie Lewis, the pastor of the
church, was ordained by a
council composed of Rev. P.
Murrell and others in the
ordination. In December 1892 a
council convened for the purpose
of ordaining Brothers Ralph Wood
and C. M. Pemberton (whose
picture appears) by a council
composed of: Reverends J.
Garnett, N. P. Pierson, J.
Ingram, L. Shobe and others.
Rev. L. Shobe took charge of
this church in November 1891 and
has been pastor ever since. The
last council convened for the
purpose of ordaining brothers V.
B. Garnett and Tobe Terry, with
a council composed of Reverend
L. Shobe, Brothers Peter Smith,
L. G. Davis, Alexander Hurndon,
G. W. Mills, Frank Willis and
others. The present church
building is of the latest
design, well built, neatly
seated and in a beautiful
location. It is valued at about
$1,600.00 and has had only two
treasure holders, brothers Ralph
Wood, Sr., and G. G. Garnett. W.
W. Garnett, secretary, R. G.
Lasley, assistant Rev. L. Shobe,
pastor and moderator.”

Hart County

“The Woodsonville Missionary
Baptist Church was organized
December 3, 1870 with 22
members, by Rev. Tolbert Rogers
and others. There
are only 3 living, as follows:
Brothers Robert Rowletts, Sam P.
Dixon, Sister Sallie Rowlett and
James G. Hardy (white) was the
moderator of the organization.
Rev. Tolbert Rogers preached
here 2 or 3 years before the
church was established and was
the first pastor called after
the organization. Bro. Harve
Barlow was the first deacon and
Bro. Bailey Williams was the
next, he served a number of
years and died. Bro. Jacob
Rowlett served a number of years
and was called by death. Bro.
Robert Rowlett, who was in the
organization is one of the
deacons who is now presiding and
Bro. F. D. Best (picture at
right)
is also one of the present
deacon, the only two living.
Rev. Tolbert Rogers was pastor
until he died; Rev. Elzie Lewis
succeeded him and was pastor
until he died; he was succeeded
by Rev. J. E Wood, who staid
only a short time, then
resigned. In 1890 the church
called Rev. J. Garnett, who was
pastor 27 years and resigned.
The church then called Rev C. W.
Bransford who is the present
pastor. The church started with
22 members and now it has 160.”